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An anonymous reader writes "A research project dubbed the 'Array of Things' will add sensors for public monitoring throughout Chicago. The project is being started by a collaborative effort between the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratories. The goal of the project is to build a permanent data collection infrastructure to monitor things that might help government officials, researchers and companies better understand the city environment. Sensors will examine various attributes such as air quality, wind, light, sound heat, precipitation, and of course cell phone data. Eventually the researchers would like to see the sensors exist as a public utility throughout the entire city to help public, private and academic partners learn about the city. Researchers say there is nothing to fear about privacy because the sensors will only count people by observing cellphone traffic. With such assurances from researchers working in a shining example of transparency and democratic freedom like Chicago, what could possible go wrong?"

Chicago residents have zero interest in individual rights and freedom. In fact, the very idea frightens them. They would much rather have the government take care of them and tell them what to do. This is why every Chicago incumbent (all Democrats) gets reelected as long as they are interested in running. People here have no desire for reform, as they are either getting something from "the system" or think they will be too.

Once I realized this, a lot of things that were previously a mystery all of a sudden became clear.